419 scam: "OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT"<ADVISER@presidency.ng.com> Re; US$121 Million Payment Notification.

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348039701100 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <goodluckj@execs.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2010 01:22:45 -0800
Subject: Re; US$121 Million Payment Notification.

Federal Republic of Nigeria
Office of the Executive President.
State House, Aso-Rock, Abuja Nigeria.
Tel/Fax: 234-803-9701100

Attention;

Re; US$121 Million Payment Notification.

Sequel to the above subject matter and your Appoved funds, With due You are welcome to State House which is my office for your payment to the Inland Revenue Office direct, do not send non Accredited person to the Protocol officials, I will advise you to request detail of sending the US$860 as through Western Union or Money Gram as that will be faster, cheaper and safer for your wire transfer to be credit within 48hrs, We only receive your Ambassador or payments above US$10,000.00 through our Bank Accounts.

Be rest assured that you are in the right hand with this honorable office, our transactions are classified as legal and genuine, This government have cordial and Bi-lateral relationship with your Country. I advise you to discontinue for whatever reason the exposure of your payment information to third person(s) as we cannot accept representations of any type as that have coursed us so much problems and misdirections of funds in the pasts. This office is supreme to all other offices in the land and in full control of this transfer henceforth. Call us immediately for more details on Tel/Fax: 234-803-9701100.

Thanks for your anticipated Co-operation.

Sincerely.

H.E. Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR).
President and Commander in-chief.
Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This email may contain information which is privileged and confidential. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam